The Exhibitions Policy stipulates that 'exhibitions are local, national and international, with local content a high percentage of the program each year'.

Exhibitions on display will offer the community ways of seeing its cultures, environments and histories. Exhibitions will encourage the expression of ideas, attitudes and ambitions - they are about the tradition of art and art in our time, cultural diversity, communication and enjoyment. Exhibitions should offer audiences stimulation and challenging engagement.

The exhibitions curated by Cairns Regional Gallery staff feature the artworks of the Far Northern region, which have toured nationally, including Artists Studio, Escape Artists: Modernists in the Tropics, the highly acclaimed Ilan Pasin (this is our Way) exhibition of Torres Strait Islander art and Home Island, Home Country - a special exhibition of works on paper by young people from communities across Cape York and the Torres Strait, and Encounters with Country: Landscapes of Ray Crooke. Linked Landscapes by Anneke Silver, is currently touring nationally.

The Gallery also presents a broad range of touring exhibitions from regional, state and national museums and galleries throughout the calendar year.

Exhibitions by local artists are developed through LEAP - the Loft Emerging Artists Program. This program, sponsored by the John Villiers Trust, will be directed towards solo artists selected for the program. Through this initiative, the Gallery profiles the work of artists and arts cooperatives throughout Tropical North Queensland. Cairns Regional Gallery calls for expressions of interest from artists each year for an exhibition the following years. Applications for the LEAP 2011 are being solicited now.

Closing date for applications is Friday 8 April 2011. An information session will be held on Wednesday 16 February 2011, at Cairns Regional Gallery from 5.30 - 6.30pm.

» Download the LEAP application form

All exhibitions are complimented with an active promotional, educational, advertorial and interpretive program targeting both the local and visitor community to the region.

THE RED SOFA SYNDROME
2 December 2011 - 8 January 2012

A showcase of the creative talents of students from the Diploma of Visual Arts course offered at the Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE.
TAFE Mainstream Visual Arts Student Exhibition

Impress: Body to Body
9 December 2011 - 5 February 2012

Impress showcases a new portfolio of limited-edition prints by twelve highly regarded Indigenous and non-Indigenous printmakers working in the Cairns Region: Anna Eglitis, Christine Eyres, Margaret Genever, Elizabeth Hunter, Laurel McKenzie, Glen Mackie (Kei Kelak) Justin Majid, Arone Meeks, Billy Missi, Hannah Parker, Brian Robinson and Sasi Victoire.
A Cairns Regional Gallery Community Exhibition Program.

Passing Through, Lasting Impressions: Ben Trupperbäumer.
9 December 2011 - 5 February 2012

In this exhibition, presents two series of works, each a response to the large-scale natural events of recent times. Some of the works in the second series have been produced I collaboration with the well-known painter Euan MacLeod
Cairns Regional Gallery Curated Exhibition

Perspectives: Jon Cattapan And Ex De Medici
16 December 2011 - 22 January 2012

Perspectives presents the unique insights of two leading contemporary artists responding to the subject of peacekeeping. Cattapan travelled to Timor-Lest in July 2008 and eX de Medici went to the Solomon Islands in March 2009.
An Australian War Memorial Travelling Exhibition.

Patterns Under The Sea
13 January 2012 - 19 February 2012

An interactive children’s exhibition devoted to showcasing pattern and repetition across various media associated with the abundant and inspirational local aquatic environment.
A Cairns Regional Gallery Collection Exhibition.

Behind The Lines: The Year’s Best Cartoons 2011
27 January 2012 - 1 April 2012

Laugh and cry as you follow the year’s twists and turns in politics with Australia’s top cartoonists.
An exhibition from the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.

Nalda Searles: Drifting In My Own Land
10 February 2012 - 8 April 2012

This landmark exhibition - part retrospective, part new works - confirms Searles as an artist at the height of her powers. Over the past thirty years she has become respected and beloved Australia-wide as an exemplary maker, teacher and mentor, bridging indigenous and non-indigenous art worlds.
A touring exhibition managed and supported by ART ON THE MOVE

Tim Storrier Photography 1971-2005
10 February 2012 - 8 April 2012

Tim Storrier has forged one of the most successful, idiosyncratic careers in Australian art, and this is an exhibition of thirty of his photographs. During the course of the exhibition, the Gallery will be showing the film Lighting Fires (1993), a reflection on Tim Storrier’s art and the creative process that informs it.
A Cairns Regional Gallery Exhibition curated by Gavin Wilson

Strangely Familiar: Ricky Beresford
24 February 2012 - 1 April 2012

An exhibition of new work in which the artist explores the notion of unconsciously motivated imagery.
A Loft Emerging Artist’s Program Exhibition.

» Click here for details of past exhibitions...